Product Review: Kong Zoom Groom

I have used a good number of brushes during my time as a pet sitter.  Each brush I have used has been greeted with varying degrees of love and hatred from cats and dogs alike, depending upon whether they liked to be brushed or not.  My cat and dog are two animals who hate being brushed.  There were days with my cat where Justin would have to hold him down while I did my best to not hurt him as I brushed out his long fur.  My dog on the other hand would actually lunge at the brush, trying to get it out of my hands to scare me into stopping (she never bites but she does it to manipulate someone into getting her way).

About a year ago while Ashrah was in dog training classes, her dog trainer introduced me to the Kong Zoom Groom.  At first I looked upon this $9.99 piece of rubber with skepticism but when my common-law husband asked if we could try it on Ashrah, she just laid there and let him brush her.  I continued to watch with growing skepticism until he showed me the brush and I looked on the floor to see all of the dead hair the brush had managed to push out of her fur.  Of course, I ran to the nearest pet store and bought one that very day.

The Kong Zoom Groom is a cute rubber brush with blunt, cone shaped teeth which offers a nice, gentle massage on your pet’s skin while slowly getting the under coat to release loose and dead hair.  It comes in a dog version which has a trough for shampoo during baths and a cat version with has no trough.  The Kong Zoom Groom comes in five different colours (blue, green, purple, raspberry, and red) and for you American product fans, is made in the USA.  It can also be used in the tub or outside the tub.

Although it has helped me groom all of my animals and the animals I have pet sat for this year, I will warn everyone that although this works for most dogs, please don’t expect this to work for all dogs or cats.  Coming from someone who has watched a Siberian husky in the past and is good friends with a former Siberian husky breeder, this brush would not be the wisest choice to try grooming one with.  I have found, however, that this brush is a good choice for breeds and pets with shorter fur.  I will also say that this has helped me with Taven, my medium haired cat, but even I have to say that I will not only use this brush on him as it doesn’t always get all of the under coat out.  If you are going to be giving your long haired pet a bath, however, I will agree that this is a great choice to help get the shampoo all the way down to the under coat.

Like all products, it is not without its downfalls.  As I mentioned, this brush is not a good choice to use on a dry, long haired dog but what brush is universal?  None.  I also cannot say that this is a great brush to use exclusively for some breeds.  It does bring a lot of hair to the top so I often times have to go over the coat lightly with another brush or comb to get rid of the rest fur.

My last down fall is the amount of fur it gets out of your pet will land on the fall and if your pet’s fur is short enough, it won’t catch in the brush.  So don’t use this brush on a carpeted surface unless you plan on doing a ton of vacuuming right after.  I have turned my beige carpet grey with my dog’s fur before and then I still had problems picking It all up with my vacuum.  Trust the voice of experience and do this outside or on a linoleum, laminate, or hard wood floor.

I have read many reviews on this and I keep seeing people screaming the same thing, “It’s not durable enough if my dog chews on it!”  I can attest to that as my cat has chewed a cone off my Kong Zoom Groom for cats.  Although this is a consistent complaint, like all non-toy items, I cannot stress enough to keep it out of your pet’s reach.  It’s a grooming tool.  I’ve heard of cats and dogs who hide their nail clippers, chew up handles, and who steal brushes.  Why are these people allowing their pet to gain access to it?  Again, if it’s not a toy, don’t keep it in a place your pet can get it.  Simple fix.

For $9.99 Canadian ($8.99 US), I have found that this brush is worth every penny for me.  Because there is not a huge difference between the cat and the dog Kong Zoom Groom, you can buy one and use it on the other.  It can be used wet or dry and works well on pets with most coat types (multitaskers, got to love them).  Bonus points for it being made in the US and the price is quite good for the fur that it can take off your pet.

So my rating for this product is 4.5 out of 5 for being able to go from a dog brush to a cat brush, working for most short haired coat types, and being able to use it in and out of the tub.  Plus a bonus ½ of a point for being made in the US (or in my case, North America in general).  It is not the ultimate choice in brushes, especially for long haired or thick under coated pets and it does leave a mess if done on a carpet.

Note: The Kong Zoom Groom is available in PetSmart (in both the US and Canada), Petco, and other pet stores.

Grooming Unravelled For Dogs

There’s nothing worse than not using the right tool for any job.  Either you can hurt the project or not do enough to make a difference in the project.  If you damage the project, your project has the chance of never recovering.  Well, the same problem goes with grooming.  When you use the wrong tool, either not enough will be done to make a difference on your dog or you can hurt your dog, turning them off to the entire experience.

There are a large variety of grooming tools on the market, each having their own specific use and aimed towards a specific coat type.  My goal is to empower pet parents with the knowledge of how to properly groom their pets.  After all, knowledge is power.  Because brushing is something that pains some dogs, I will be focusing on the idea of brushing. 

Dog coats can be classified into six coat types (smooth, short double, long double, curly, silky, and wire) which all require their own set of grooming equipment.  At the bottom of the page, I will sum up what is needed for each coat type.  Please note that I will be discussing cat grooming, bathing, ear cleaning, eye care, and nail care in later entries.  So I have not forgotten about you cat parents or other areas in grooming.

Smooth Coats
Smooth coats are short and obviously smooth.  These coats are most commonly found on pugs, Dobermans, and basset hounds.  The basic grooming tool for these coats is a simple bristled brush and a hound glove (a glove with rubber nubs in the palm), or a curry brush (think the kind of brush horse owners use).  Consider yourselves lucky since many professionals agree that these coats need only a weekly brushing and the occasional bath.  However, that’s not to say that they won’t benefit from additional grooming.

To thoroughly groom this coat type, use medium pressure starting at the head and working your way down your dog’s back to their rear, going in the direction of the fur.  A key rule in this case is to go over your dog’s fur twice.  This should get a vast majority of the fur off your dog.

Short Double Dog Coats
These coats tends to have a soft but short insulating coat and a longer outer coat.  Dogs such as Rottweilers and Labradors tend to have this double coat which needs brushing at least two to three times per week.  Again, this is not to say that these dogs will not benefit from additional grooming.  The basic grooming tools needed in this case is a slicker brush or pin brush (imagine how a pin cushion looks).

To thoroughly groom this coat type, simply take a section of your dog’s fur and part the fur.  At this point, you should be able to see the dog’s skin.  Get as close as you can to the dog’s skin without getting the dog’s skin and brush out the undercoat by pulling the brush outward.  Then brush in the direction of the fur.

Long Double Dog Coats
Similar to above, dogs such as Siberian Huskies, Pomeranians, Corgis, and Akitas have the short insulating coat with a long outer coat.  Also like the dogs above, these dogs need to be brushed at least two to three times per week but do benefit from additional grooming.  They shed the most during the spring and the fall.  The proper grooming tools for these dogs are a slicker or pin brush as well as a wide tooth comb, commonly known as a rake.

To begin grooming, go over the outer coat with the pin or slicker brush before parting the fur with your hand.  Like the short double dog coat, put the brush as close to the skin as you can without having the brush touch the coat and pull the brush outward to remove the loose fur.  After you do this all over your dog’s body, use thee rake to go over your dog’s body, going in the direction of the fur.

Curly Coats
As many of you can guess, poodles and bichon frises fit into this coat type.  As the reoccurring trend shows, a slicker brush is going to be one of the primary tools you will need.  The last tool required as a necessity for grooming this coat type is a long pin brush with a cushioned back.

To groom, start out by the head’s shorter fur, part the fur and brush out the fur starting at the skin and going outward.  For the longer fur, simply use the pin brush to brush out the longer fur starting at the end and heading in towards the skin, similarly to how you’d brush your own hair.  For super stubborn knots, mats, and tangles, use a pair of grooming scissors to cut them out but never use scissors to cut mats under or on the ears as you can easily cut your dog’s skin.  Remember, just brushing the to coat will not accomplish anything.

Silky Coats
This is probably the one coats which needs the most grooming due to their long, silky hair in places that hang away from the body.  Maltese and Yorkies are only two of the breeds which fall into these categories.    The proper tools which an owner will need are a spray on conditioner, a comb, a pin brush, and scissors.  As a note, for dogs with this coat type, they should be groomed daily.

Start with spraying a spray on conditioner to keep the hair from breaking.  Then brushing the face and head first and move in the direction of the fur.  Comb the cheeks, under the chin, and down the neck.  Last, brush under the ears using light pressure.  If there are bad tangles under the ears, do not cut the tangles with scissors as it is easy to cut the dog’s skin with scissors.  Remove knots and tangles one at a time. 

Wire Coats
With these coats, a slicker brush (yes, this does seem to be the multipurpose brush) is the brush of choice and a metal comb will also be needed.  Simply start at the dog’s head and neck and move down the rest of the body including the legs.  Brush in the direction of the fur to remove tangles.  Then go back and brush out the undercoat by starting at the skin and brushing outward.  Last, do the same with the metal comb.

End Remarks
Many of you may be asking “well what about the deshedders like the Furminator?”  To be honest, I have found that they tend to hurt dogs by pulling their fresh fur rather than the loose fur.  If you own one and swear by it, then I’d honestly suggest doing the proper grooming above and as a quick once over, using the deshedding tool.  This is the method I use on my own pets and I’ve found that I’ve had great success. 

I hope that this has given everyone a bit of confidence to begin grooming their dog.  If you still feel a bit shaky on this, two resources that I found useful are http://www.petuniversity.com  and Grooming Your Dog by the editors of Dog Fancy or you can simply consult your veterinarian, Animal Health Tech, or pet groomer.  If anyone has any other great resources, please let me know.  I would love to post them to assist others.

Good luck, dog parents and take care!

Kim

Short Haired Breeds
1.) Bristled Brush
2.) Hound Brush
3.) Curry Brush

Short Double Coat
1.) Slicker Brush
2.) Pin Brush

Long Double Coat
1.) Slicker Brush
2.) Pin Brush
3.) Rake/Wide Tooth Comb

Curly Coat
1.)Slicker Brush
2.) Pin Brush with a cushioned back
3.) Scissors

Silky Coat
1.) Spray on Conditioner
2.) Comb
3.) Pin Brush
4.) Scissors

Wire Coat
1.) Slicker Brush
2.) Metal Comb

Animal Grooming Equals Allergy Minimization

I am an allergy sufferer.  Not only do I suffer from the seasonal ‘bout of Hay Fever but I also suffer from pet allergies.  Yes, pet allergies.  I have the paperwork from the allergist to say that I have severe allergies to cats and some allergies to dogs.  So what am I allergic to exactly?  The dander.

Let’s face it, for those of you who suffer from some sort of seasonal allergies, we can all agree, allergies suck.  The itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, etc is just not what anyone could call fun.  So what does this mean?  Simple, imagine how your guests feel when they step foot into your home.   So how do you minimize allergens?  Simple.

Groom your pets!

Yes, grooming your pets can mean the difference between having allergy suffering guests and not.  Minimizing your pet’s shedding fur can and most often will, minimizing dander.  Brushing your pet brings and distributes your pet’s natural oils to the surface and cause dander (flakes) not to be seen and drop.  Your dog should be brushed, on average, every few days, more if your pet seems to need it. 

As an allergy sufferer, I brush my dog daily as she is a constant shedder.  As for my cats, I do what I can to groom all of them.  Not only does the brushing help in terms of allergies, the grooming helps keep the fur on the floor to a minimum!  Granted, grooming will not eliminate the need to sweep and vacuum but it will help with making the house more manageable when you have those unexpected guests drop by. 

Another thing to remember to do is bathe your dog.  This will help keep dander under control by using a moisturizing shampoo.  With this, I have been told to avoid shampoos with the SLS (sodium laurel sulphate), a degreasing agent which dries a dog’s skin.  I have found Pet Head (Yes, by the makers of Bed Head) No More Ruff Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs works well if you must go with a fragranced shampoo or any other shampoo with botanical oil extracts and fragranced-free shampoo.

The last thing that I would like to mention is the importance of the between baths cleanings.  There are a variety of products on the market that can do this.  Although it is fragranced, I have had good luck with Pet Head’s Dry Clean Waterless Spray shampoo, however, it usually is recommended that pet parents use wipes instead. 

Although I am neither a doctor nor a vet, yet, I have found that I have had excellent luck with these methods and products.  Not only have I noticed a decrease in my allergies, but I also have noticed that there is less pet hair to clean up which is another big plus, especially when you have in-laws dropping in unannounced.

Take care and keep those pets well groomed!  After all, not only will you get great compliments about how great your pet looks but your friends with allergies or your own body will thank you for it!

 Be well!

Kim

PS - Pet Head’s Dry Clean Waterless Spray shampoo and Pet Head's No More Ruff Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs  are both available in PetSmart, PetSmart.com, and Amazon.com in both the US and Canada.